The Series' Divine Isle Recollection Reveals Why Legends Aren't to Be Believed Without Question

The adage 'History is written by the victors' is a central theme that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time woven into the narrative. Popular tales frequently fail to convey the complete truth, even for the most influential figures in this story's intricate past. Oden was no foolish performer dancing through the streets of Wano Country; he acted out of duty and conviction. Kuma wasn't a merciless villain who tore apart the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was helping them. Similarly, Davy Jones signified more than a pirate's contest in search of flags and crews.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we witness the culmination of this theme. The entire Divine Isle story serves as a warning story, instructing readers not to judge the characters too hastily.

Legends frequently do not capture the full reality, including the most powerful figures.

The series's latest look back, detailing the God Valley event, represents one of the story's finest arcs to date. Apart from the thrill of witnessing legends in their prime, it's compelling to observe them before they became symbols — when their reputation had still not outgrow their human nature. The past, as written by the World Government and retold through secondhand tales, shaped our understanding of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and even Garp. But both the government's accounts and the stories of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be unreliable, showing only fragments of who these men really were.

The Individual Prior to the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been guided by purpose and the daring attitude that sparked a fresh era of piracy, but prior to he became the Pirate King, he was a young man governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When individuals discuss his myth, they typically refer to his second voyage, the grand expedition in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to the final island. Yet not much is understood about his first journey, the one that molded him prior to fame discovered him.

At that time, Roger was largely unaware of the globe's hidden past. His affection for Shakky led him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the World Government's darkest realities: the extermination "contests," the grotesque forms of the Gorosei, and even the presence of the world's hidden ruler, Imu. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's reflections about all that's occurring in the Divine Isle, but maybe finding the son of a God's Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his place in the globe and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this recollection, what we were aware of of Rocks D. Xebec came mostly from Sengoku's account, each to the audience and to young Navy recruits. He depicted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, ambitious man determined to achieve world domination, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it transpires, the strategist wasn't even there at the Divine Isle; he was only echoing the Global Authority's approved version of occurrences, the exact narrative the sovereign authorized to conceal the truth about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who sought to overthrow Imu and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We don't know if he was guided by lust for power, revenge for his family, or a desire for justice, but when he discovered the regime's plan to eliminate the island where his kin resided, he gave up his ambitions of domination to save them.

This devotion for his family proved to be his undoing. Upon confronting the sovereign, he lost his determination and liberty, becoming a puppet enslaved to their power. Currently, with what little awareness is left, he pleads with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — believing that dying would be a mercy compared to the living hell he suffers. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the tale told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the manga presents him in a positive light during the God Valley events.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But was Rocks really die? An intriguing theory is that he is still a slave to Imu in the current timeline, serving as the scarred individual, maintaining the World Government's last ancient stone in constant transit to keep the One Piece from being found.

Garp's Hidden Rebellion

Another key figure of the God Valley event is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced backlash from fans for years for doing nothing as Akainu murdered Ace. That sentiment only grew more intense after the timeskip, when he risked everything to rescue the young Marine at Pirate Island, leading many to question why he was unable to do the identical for his own grandson. Comparable doubts have now resurfaced with the God Valley recollection: how can Monkey D. Garp work for the Navy, knowing the Global Authority treats genocide and slavery as entertainment for the elite?

The reality uncovers something different. The instant Monkey D. Garp saw the Elders' grotesque shapes, he struck without hesitation. His partnership with Gol D. Roger wasn't to vanquish some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an attempt to halt the sovereign, who was manipulating Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to wipe out everyone in God Valley, including it seems, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is likely the cause Monkey D. Garp despises the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he never desired to be promoted to Admiral, reporting straight to them.

History's Unreliable Storytellers

Even though the readers are viewing the Divine Isle incident through a flashback recounted by the giant, including perspectives and occurrences he clearly wasn't present for, I believe we can consider this version as completely accurate. The series may offer an explanation in the future, perhaps linked to Loki's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Still, the Divine Isle incident excellently embodies the idea that the past is recorded by the winners. This attitude is {